Scratch Beer 69 - 2012 (More Helles, Less Bock)
Tröegs Brewing Company
- From:
- Tröegs Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Maibock
- ABV:
- 5.6%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 8.31%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 23
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 05, 2019
- Added:
- Jun 08, 2012
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
More Helles, Less Bock is an easy-drinking lager that blurs the lines between Helles, Bock and Maibock styles. At 5.6% ABV, 21 IBU, and light straw color, Scratch #69 portrays itself as a Helles; but inside the glass lurks a more complex beer reminiscent of the Bock style. Aromatic toasted chestnuts and hints of honeysuckle flower present themselves before the first sip. After tasting More Helles, Less Bock you will immediately want more. The floor-malted barley gives an earthy flavor that pairs with the hints of bitterness from Tradition. The finish is sweet and malty, yet still refreshing; a light filtration adds bread notes at the end.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)
3.65/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.65/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from Capone's. Starts out more bock, than finishes more helles. Pleasant enough than finishes more drinkable. A decent beer, but makes me long for something more hoppy, please. Medium yellow coloured body, a little lace. Good carbonation. Smooth, well rounded.
Jan 01, 2013
Reviewed by sommersb from Tennessee
3.95/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Tasted On: 11-29-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Willi Becher
Purchased: Received in a trade
A: Clear straw yellow beer topped by a white head 2 fingers high. Very good retention, with a nice ring of lace sticking to the glass.
S: Pale bready malts and a light banana fruitiness make for sweet aromas. Also get some floral hops.
T: Sweet, fruity and malty, with low bitterness. Very tasty
M: Moderately carbonated and a medium body. The finish is bready, with some vegetable aftertaste and a light amount of bitterness.
O: Very refreshing lager that I enjoyed.
Thanks to merc7186 for this one!
Nov 30, 2012Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Willi Becher
Purchased: Received in a trade
A: Clear straw yellow beer topped by a white head 2 fingers high. Very good retention, with a nice ring of lace sticking to the glass.
S: Pale bready malts and a light banana fruitiness make for sweet aromas. Also get some floral hops.
T: Sweet, fruity and malty, with low bitterness. Very tasty
M: Moderately carbonated and a medium body. The finish is bready, with some vegetable aftertaste and a light amount of bitterness.
O: Very refreshing lager that I enjoyed.
Thanks to merc7186 for this one!
Reviewed by chefhatt from Pennsylvania
3.97/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I poured this into a pint glass, it has a yellow straw colored body, with not head or lace to it. The smell has a scent of grain to it with a carmel hint. The taste up front is sweet and malty almost like carmel, then a nice floral taste comes into play. The mouth feel is really good, very little after taste on the tongue and overall this is a really good combination of style and is a nice and easy drinker.
Nov 29, 2012
Reviewed by tlazaroff from Virginia
3.96/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear light golden in color with a nice crisp white head that laces nicely even though it dissipated rather quickly.
Predominant grain aromas coming off this one, not my favorite smell, it reminds me of cereal. But the saving grace is the tiny little bit of caramel that slips in on the nose. It makes it bearable for me.
Upfront I was hit with a blast of caramel, which quickly lent way to a nice floral flavor and then the aftertaste was back to caramel. Delicious! It is drying, light-bodied, crisp, and overall a joy to drink.
Oct 31, 2012Predominant grain aromas coming off this one, not my favorite smell, it reminds me of cereal. But the saving grace is the tiny little bit of caramel that slips in on the nose. It makes it bearable for me.
Upfront I was hit with a blast of caramel, which quickly lent way to a nice floral flavor and then the aftertaste was back to caramel. Delicious! It is drying, light-bodied, crisp, and overall a joy to drink.
Reviewed by John_M from Washington
3.58/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Hudson St. stackhouse the other day.
The beer pours a solid gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is fairly attractive as well, showcasing bread dough, honey and light dry citrus. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely in this lightly sweet lager, and the mouthfeel is slick, smooth, medium bodied and lightly bitter on the finish. The finish is otherwise very clean, polished and refreshing in this nicely crafted beer, and alcohol is completely undetectable.
Quite drinkable and enjoyable... just wish there was a bit more going on.
Oct 29, 2012The beer pours a solid gold color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is fairly attractive as well, showcasing bread dough, honey and light dry citrus. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely in this lightly sweet lager, and the mouthfeel is slick, smooth, medium bodied and lightly bitter on the finish. The finish is otherwise very clean, polished and refreshing in this nicely crafted beer, and alcohol is completely undetectable.
Quite drinkable and enjoyable... just wish there was a bit more going on.
Reviewed by dungledauf from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Gold color, slight head, mild cabonation, clear.
Smell: Slightly nutty and clean
Taste: Malty with a slight aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Smooth with a crisp finish
Overall: Very nice Maibock which had an alcohol warming on the way down. I love that Troegs can branch out and attempt German-style lagers. This was very good, and I would try again.
Oct 08, 2012Smell: Slightly nutty and clean
Taste: Malty with a slight aftertaste
Mouthfeel: Smooth with a crisp finish
Overall: Very nice Maibock which had an alcohol warming on the way down. I love that Troegs can branch out and attempt German-style lagers. This was very good, and I would try again.
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